With the decision made, the two counties in the capital posted announcents about the free clinic. County Magistrate Tang even went out of his way to inform the Land Officers in each ward and sent constables to the countryside to notify all the villages. To prevent them from coming in vain, he even arranged staggered tis for their visits.
County Magistrate Guo initially only intended to post announcents, but upon hearing the thoroughness of County Magistrate Tang’s efforts, he decided to follow suit.
Thus, on the morning of January 18th, as soon as the city gates opened, many people hurried into the city despite the cold, with so even carrying people on wooden boards.
The guards at the gate, seeing so many people carrying others into the city for the first ti, couldn’t help but ask more questions.
A man carrying a pale and frail woman explained, "I heard the Taiyi Bureau is hosting a free clinic with imperial doctors present, so I brought my wife to have a look."
The soldier glanced at the person on the wooden board, who had only her head exposed, with several layers of green quilts covering her. The layers were so thick that it seed they might suffocate her.
After examining them, finding no prohibited items, the soldiers waved them through.
This group was visiting the capital for the first ti, and couldn’t help but ask passersby, "How do we get to the Taiyi Bureau?"
"Go straight, and once inside the inner city, ask around." Replied soone, noting their unfamiliar accent. "Which village are you from?"
"Luo Village."
The person, puzzled, asked, "Is there such a village in Chang’an County?"
"We’re not from Chang’an County; we’re from Fengzhou. We heard about the capital’s free clinic on the 14th and didn’t even spend the 15th at ho before setting off."
"Indeed, after traveling four days, we finally arrived."
"...Did you walk here?"
"Yes, it’s our first ti this far out; the capital is really far."
Nonsense! The trip from the capital to Fengzhou takes only a day on horseback and a day and a half by carriage. Walking...
The one who was stopped to answer looked at the woman on the board and advised, "Better hurry; there’s a young miracle doctor at the Imperial Hospital nad Zhou, a female doctor, who specializes in won’s ailnts."
The man’s eyes lit up, "I know, she cured the crown prince and welcod the young imperial grandson. We ca because we heard she would be there."
Otherwise, having never left Fengzhou before, he wouldn’t have dared venture to the capital.
He glanced at his wife; the doctors in Fengzhou had no options left. He truly didn’t want to lose her, his only wife.
The people from Luo Village thanked him and quickened their pace toward the inner city.
Manbao blew into her hands for warmth and stomped her feet on the ground. Bai Shan noticed and said, "Let’s practice a set of exercises, it’ll warm you up."
Her hands were tucked inside her sleeves, unwilling to take them out, but Bai Shan made sense. Besides, she needed to be energetic for the student clinic today.
Nodding, she finally pulled her hands out and slowly followed Bai Shan in the exercise routine.
After one round, she was warr and proceeded to join him for a second. By the ti Bai Erlang, Yin Huo, and a few others finally ca out from washing up and headed to the dining hall, they saw the two practicing under a tree not far away.
Liu Huan, with a hint of jealousy, remarked, "How do they always manage to wake up so early?" They’re always together.
Bai Erlang peeked and, unfazed, called out, "Ti for breakfast."
Bai Shan acknowledged, finishing his exercise with Manbao. As they walked over, both slightly sweaty and Manbao comnted, "Indeed, practicing is the key to warmth."
After breakfast, Manbao left the palace for the Taiyi Bureau. Doctors Xiao and Liu went directly from ho, skipping the palace gates.
Today, it was Imperial Doctor Lu’s turn in the palace.
At the Taiyi Bureau, quite a few people were already gathered; so sitting, so standing. Upon seeing a carriage stop at the bureau’s entrance, those seated stood up to look. The constables maintaining order shouted, "Get up, get up, line up properly, one patient per spot, no crowding."
Manbao got off the carriage with her dical kit, glanced at the waiting crowd, and then at the already set-up tables and tents, and turned to enter the Taiyi Bureau.
In front of the Taiyi Bureau and Imperial Academy, there was a large open space with announcent boards. This ti, the Taiyi Bureau and Imperial Academy borrowed the land, taking over a big area outside their walls.
They set up tables and tents, essentially simple shelters.
Inside, the place was bustling; the selected students had already gathered.
This ti, the spots were awarded based on grades, and Zhou Liru was among them. Previously at Jishi Hall, she was identifying and morizing dicinal herbs without experience; this ti, she was there to observe her teachers and senior brothers.
Manbao wouldn’t lead them herself, or rather, they weren’t ready yet, rely observing and helping in the background.
Those needing hands-on teaching were the twelve selected students, three of whom were Manbao’s disciples.
Doctor Xiao, ever insightful, noticed her arrival, "You’re just in ti; we’ll split these twelve among the six of us. To avoid argunts, let’s draw lots."
Among the twelve, only Liu Sanniang was female; Manbao stated, "I’ll draw one; Sanniang will be with ."
The other doctors, acknowledging the inconvenience of them ntoring a female student, agreed.
Imperial Doctor Liu, jovial, found Liu Sanniang’s lot in the pile, then shook the remaining slips to mix them, looking at the group.
They let him draw first, given his higher status.
After so polite refusals, Imperial Doctor Liu took two slips, followed by Doctor Xiao...
By rank and experience... Manbao stepped back several tis until only one slip remained.
She silently picked it up, unfolded it under their watchful eyes, and showed them, "Shi Xiu."
Everyone’s expressions varied, and Doctor Xiao, stroking his beard, remarked, "Not bad, not bad, I rember Doctor Zhou and Shopkeeper Shi from the Huide dical Hall are well acquainted."
Of course, Manbao knew Shi Xiu, the youngest son of Shopkeeper Shi. Before joining, he had studied dicine for years. His two brothers wanted to enter the Imperial Hospital but failed multiple exams. Their family lacked connections to sneak into the imperial assistant role, so they gave up.
When the Taiyi Bureau opened, Shopkeeper Shi called back his youngest son, who had been studying elsewhere. He was just a year younger than Zheng Gu, entering the Taiyi Bureau on the age threshold.
Everyone knew he, like Zheng Gu, aid to join the Imperial Hospital.
Manbao didn’t mind; no matter whose family they were from, they were all Taiyi Bureau students, most of whom had attended her lectures.
So, she neatly folded the slip, "I’ll find them."
"We’ll co along."
Following Manbao outside, she inquired, "Who is ntoring Zheng Gu and Zheng Shao?"
Doctors Xiao and Fang answered, claiming their responsibility. Manbao entrusted them to take good care of these students.
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